aaronjazz.com

Weekly Assignment 4/27

• Mr. PC -- Be ready for 2-3 choruses of solo.
• Bag's Groove -- Use one idea and repeat it.  Change melody or the rhythm.  Use it as the inspiration for the whole solo.  1-2 Choruses
• All Blues - Play melody along with recording.  Mimic the exact way Miles plays the melody. 
• Arrive at 6:30 for the Wednesday May 4th performance.  We perform from 7:00 to 7:30.  Family and friends are invited
• Dress Code:  Boys - Dress pants, collared long-sleeve shirt, dress shoes.  Girls - The same as the boys, or a dress. 

Weekly Assignment 4/13

• Mr. PC -- Be ready for 2-3 choruses of solo
• Bag's Groove -- Use one idea and repeat it.  Change melody or the rhythm.  Use it as the inspiration for the whole solo.
• Learn the melody of All Blues, play along with recording
• Review past listening assignments for the quiz.  Be able to identify recording, song title, name a performer playing on the recording and what instrument they play.  
• I will post recordings of last week's class soon.
• NO CLASS this WEDNESDAY 4/20!

Weekly Assignment 4/6

• Sing the first chorus of Mile's Solo from All Blues 1:46 -2:15
• Mr. PC and Bag's Groove, make solos interestings with density, range, dynamics, and note choice. 
• Learn the melody of All Blues, play along with recording.  Print and download music:  Cello, Flute/Guitar, Piano, Tenor
  
• Practice Blues scale at the end of the All Blues piece (G Blues Scale for everyone except tenor sax, which is A Blues) 

Weekly Assignment 3/30

• Listen to recording of Bag's Groove.  Did you use density, range, dynamics , and note choice to build drama?    Discuss what you did and what you could do next time?  

• Construct solos with Mr. PC  and Bag's Groove.  Experiment with density, range, dynamics, and note choice.   Take one chorus of solo and just try one idea (ex. density).  The next chorus try another (ex. range).    
• Pianists.  Learn this part for Bag's Groove
  
• Check on Sunday, to find the Bag's Groove sing-a-long recording

Weekly Assignment 3/23

• Pianists -Have all music learned!
• Play Bag's Groove with F Blues play along.  Repeat one idea, over and over, slightly changing it each time.     
• Mr.PC  --make dramatic statements!  play relaxed, play intense, change the emotional feel! 

Weekly Assignment 3/16

• Is this song a blues?  Is this?  Discuss why or why not.  Email it!
• Pianists -Have all music learned!
• Play Bag's Groove with F Blues play along.  Repeat one idea, over and over, slightly changing it each time.     
• Mr.PC  -- With playalong add suggestions from class

Weekly Assignment 3/9

• Pianists - Learn both sheets, melody with chords and the comping page.
• Play Bag's Groove with F Blues play along
• Solo with Mr. PC play along faster tempo

Weekly Assignment 3/2

• Pianists - Learn both sheets, melody with chords and the comping page.
• Listen! Learn and play along the the first four measures melody, remember it starts on a concert F.
• Use new, faster play along that is above.  Mr. PC play along faster tempo

Weekly Assignment 3/2

• Pianists - Learn both sheets, melody with chords and the comping page.
• Listen! Learn and play along the the first four measures melody, remember it starts on a concert F.
• Use new, faster play along that is above.  Mr. PC play along faster tempo

Weekly Assignment 2/23

• Listening Assignment.   How is this recording  different or similar from Coltrane's recording of Mr. PC.  The saxophonist on this recording is Wayne Shorter.  What musician did both Shorter and Coltrane play with?  Hint....a famous one.  
• Use play-alongs above, play on the website or download to mp3 player.
• Use Dorian and blues scales to solo, create your own language out of them.  Write down the things you like and use them! 
• Solo with your phone number
• Practice melody

 Weekly Assignment 2/16

• Listening Assignment.  Listen to Mr. PC.  How many choruses of Saxophone Solo?  A chorus is 12 measures long.  The melody is played twice.  What are some cues that a chorus has been played?  How many choruses of piano solo?
• Practice C Dorian (Minor), C Blues, F Dorian (Minor) Scales
• Practice all digital patterns.  121, 12321, 171, 17671, etc.
• Create four digital patterns, be able to play in C and F Dorian scales
• Play your phone number.  A zero is a rest. 9 becomes 2.  
• Print out sheet music for Mr. PC, C instruments andTenor Saxophone
  
• Bonus question -- Who is Mr. PC?  

Weekly Assignment 2/9

Choose either Blue Monk by Thelonius Monk or Freddie the Freeloader by Miles Davis  --  Describe the performance and the roles of each instrument.   Email me the review

• Practice C Concert Blues Scale and C Dorian in the entire range of your instrument.
• Using the dorian and blues scale, improvise four phrases (two for each scale) you like.  Write them down so they are ready to play and share on Wednesday
• Send me an email your with your parents addresses
• Bring a music notebook!
• As always, if you have any questions or difficulties do NOT wait for class to ask.  Email me.

Listening Assignments

Students are expected to be listening to jazz music on a regular basis.  Weekly there is a listening assignment due.  

Email me to send your listening assignment. 

A sampler list of Jazz Musicians to search for:

Trumpet: Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie

Flute:  Herbie Mann

Saxophone: Wayne Shorter, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins

Trombone: Curtis Fuller, J.J. Johnson, Wycliffe Gordon, Conrad Herwig

Clarinet: Don Byron, Bennie Goodman

Piano: Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal

Drums: Max Roach, Art Blakey, Tony Williams

Free listening venues include FM 88.3 WBGO, 89.9 Columbia University at various times, iTunes, Internet radio, YouTube, and your local public or university library (e.g. Rutgers).